1. A pair of shears; now always used in the plural, but formerly also in the singular. See Shears. On his head came razor none, nor shear. (Chaucer) Short of the wool, and naked from the shear. (Dryden)

2. A shearing; used in designating the age of sheep. After the second shearing, he is a two-sher ram; . . . at the expiration of another year, he is a three-shear ram; the name always taking its date from the time of shearing. (Youatt)